China to restore architecture along century-old railway

The old Jinan station along the Jiaoji Line [Photo/peoplerail.com]

This year will see the launch of an architecture restoration project along the Qingdao-Jinan railway in East China's Shandong province, authorities said.

Shandong Cultural Heritage Administration has drawn up plans for heritage sites along the 112-year-old railway, which is known as the Jiaoji Line, said Xie Zhixiu, head of the administration.

Old railway stations, bridges and water towers will be repaired and named protected sites, he said.

The 384-km line, which connects coastal city of Qingdao with the provincial capital Jinan, started operation in 1904. German financiers funded the railway.

Several of the pieces of architecture are in the German style.